Goemkarponn Desk/ABIDHA BARRETTO
Canacona: Since some of the best beaches of Goa are in Canacona, it is but natural for the economy of Canacona to be dependent on tourism, but the sudden surfacing of Covid-19 pandemic since last more than one year has broken the backbone of the tourism and allied industry in the taluka of Canacona.
Canacona is home to the blue and seren beaches at Polem, Galgibagha, Talpona, Rajbagh, Patnem, Palolem, Butterfly Honeymoon, Agonda and Khola which in normal times visited by lakhs of tourists during November to April.
To cater to the needs of these visitors thousands of locals have invested their time, money and energy and depend on a good season to recover their investment and make enough profit to survive the lean season.
Apart from beach side temporary accommodation locals have ventured into services like taxi, laundry, eateries, chai shops provision stores, money exchange, travel agencies, liquor shops and they need good number of footfalls to survive as the rents for the promises is too high.
With no white tourists arriving due to the implementation of strict Standard Operating Procedures by the government of India, the tourism sector which directly and indirectly supports half of the talukas strong 50 thousand population is reeling under great economic stress to say the least.
Like any other beach village in Goa the tourism stakeholders in the coastal belt of Canacona ready the infrastructure needed to support the tourism activities.
The season last year had a bad start due to four cyclones battering the west coast in quick succession, and when everything looked settled the news of Covid-19 pandemic in the second half of March dashed the hopes of at least breaking even their business got drowned as the entire country went into lock down mode.
This season expecting some sort of miracle the tourism stakeholders made ready their structures but the number of domestic tourists arriving was too less.
Young couples mostly working in IT sector in Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad arrive on Friday and check out on Sunday’s, rest other days the occupancy is below 25 percent many informed.
Socky a tourism stakeholder at Palolem said that this year the season has shrunk to Friday-Saturday affairs.
“The IT professionals have a holiday on Saturday, they take leave on Friday and drive down to Goa for a two day stay, most check out on Saturday as they have to report for duty fresh on Monday, the low turnout has made the accommodation owners to drop down their rates further, people are reeling under huge debt and need financial assistance from the government” Socky said.
With no tourists on the beaches of Canacona and no work to do the residents are seen using their spare time to take a stroll on the beach and youth are seen playing cricket or football waiting with a hope that all will be well at least for the coming season.
